Barber s indicator



(H0 Model.)

S. P. WATSON. BARBERS INDICATOR.

No. 448,392. Patented Mar. 17, 1891 v I awuawtoz $52; A Gum M 4 g @wd/tmaweo/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMEON P. \VATSON, OF BROOKLYN, NElVYORK.

BARBERS INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 4d8,392, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed June '7, 1890. Serial No. 854,664. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern Be it known that I, SIMEON P. lVATSON, of Brooklyn, Kings county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Barbers Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe a barbers indicator embodying my improvement, and then point out the novel features in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of an indicator. Fig. 2 is a back view thereof and certain appurtenances.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a dial, and B an index mounted upon a spindle O, protruding through the center of the dial and having rotary movement around the dial. The dial is intended to be marked consecutively with figures from the starting-point of the index. In the present instance the numeral 1 is at the top part and over the center of the dial, and the figures run to the right around the dial. On the spindle C a ratchetwheel D is affixed in rear of the dial. The spindle may he supported in any suitable way to rotateas, for instance, in a bracket (1, fastened to the rear side of the front of the case.

D designates a stop-pawl, which is pivotally connected to the case and precludes the rotation of the ratchet-wheel in the wrong direction.

D designates a pawl pivotally connected at one end to a lever E and held in contact with the ratchet-wheel by a spring 6, which is fastened to said lever. The leverE is fulcrumed between its ends to a bracket E, which is secured to the case of the instrument. When this lever is vibrated in one direction, the pawl D imparts a movement to the ratchet-wheel sufficiently great to effeet a movement of the index B from opposite one figure of the dial to the next.

F designates a pawl rigidly connected to the lever E close to the pawl D and in a position to enact with the ratchet-wheel. This pawl is longitudinally slotted, so that it may be adjusted to project more or less from the lever or to adjust it relatively to the movement of the lever as the parts become worn. The object of this pawl is to prevent the pawl D from moving the ratchet-wheel more than one tooth at a time, and to accomplish this purpose said pawl F is so arranged that after the movement of the ratchet-wheel through one tooth under an impulse from the pawl D the said pawl F will bear against the top of another ratchet-tooth and block the ratchet-wheel. The apparatus represented in Fig. 2 shows this coaction of the pawls D and F.

G designates an electro-magnet secured to the case of the instrument. Its armature g is affixed to the lever E above the fulcrum of the latter. Hence when this electro-magnet is energized it will vibrate the lever in such direction as to effect a partial rotation of the ratchet-wheel.

The movement of the lever E may be limited by stops 0 6 These are made in the form of screws fitted to a bracket which is fast-cued to the case of the instrument, and when so made the stops will of course be adjustable.

Whenever the electro-magnet becomes deenergized, the lever is retracted by means of a spring H, which at one end bears against a pin fastened to the lever below the fulcrum of said lever and at the other end is connected with the ease of the instrument.

To the lower extremity of the leverl have shown the hammer I of a hell I alfixed. Hence when the lever is retracted this bell will be sounded.

The ends of the coils of the electro-magnet G are connected to binding-posts J J which also have fastened in them circuit-wires K K communicating with a battery L and with push-buttons M M These push buttons will be adjacent to the barbers chairs. Normally the electric circuit will be open. Each time a push-button is manipulated the circuit will be temporarily closed and will thereby cause the electro-magnet G to be energized and the index 13 to be moved from one figure to the next on the dial. The pushbuttons, being of the usual spring-actuated type, will open the circuit whenever released. \Vhen this happens, the electro-magnet will be de-energized and the hell I will be struck. It is the duty of each barber to touch his push-button M or M at the time of serving or attending to each customer. The indeXB will. therefore indicate at any time the numher of persons who have received attention 1n the course of the day, assuming that the index is' returned to the starting position each day. As each person enters he may recelve a numbered check of any desired constructlon. The first person who enters in the morning will receive check N0. 1, and the index Bwill point to 1; but at many times in the day the number of people who have received checks will be greater than the nu mber of people waited upon, and the number on the check received by the last person will be higher than the number opposite the index-as, for instance, if a man entered the shop at atime when four people were already unattended to the number of his check would be five numbers above the number to which the index B would point.

It is possible from the use of this indicator with the checks for any person immediately on entering the shop to learn by comparing the number of his check with the number to which the index B points how many persons are ahead of him awaiting attention. He can therefore, after havingsecurcd-his turn,

go-away, if he desires, and count. on having.

his turn when he comes back. In this way time may be saved and confusion frequently obviated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with an electro-magnet and circuit-changers, of a ratchet-wheel, an oscil- 

